In this study, past reserve retention studies are organized into perspectives, based on variables examined and underlying assumptions regarding reservists’ motivations to reenlist. Using these perspectives, analysis of survey data obtained from a sample of soldiers (N 510) serving in the US Army National Guard identified the perspective associated most with reenlistment intention. Surveys were administered to soldiers right before and during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over two-thirds (71 percent) of the soldiers surveyed planned to reenlist and about one-third (29 percent) did not. The rational-incentive perspective had the greatest explanatory power in discriminating between soldiers who intended to reenlist and those who did not. Of the variables, wanting military experiences contributed most (positive direction) to intentions to reenlist, followed by joining for military experiences (negative direction), and by joining for monetary incentives (positive direction). The discriminant function analysis combining variables from all perspectives better classified soldiers’ reenlistment intentions (78 percent) than the rational-incentive perspective (71 percent) and the remaining perspectives (ranged from 56 percent to 64 percent). Of the variables in the analysis containing variables from all perspectives, wanting military experiences, again, contributed most to intentions to reenlist in reserve military service. Variables that followed in their strength of contribution to retention intentions were caring leaders, perceptions of combat-ready soldiers and equipment, and joining for money. Results portend an emerging paradigm regarding reserve military service; reserve component soldiers want more military experiences and better training and equipment preparation for combat.
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Examining the relation of reenlistment intention to reasons for staying in reserve military service may be appear to be somewhat circuitous or tautological, in particular, the relation of reenlistment intention to staying for military experiences. However, on conceptual and empirical grounds, this appears not to be the case. Stated intention to stay or leave an organization is not the same as stating reasons for staying or leaving the organization. In our survey, reenlistment intention indicated planned future behavior. Subsequently, respondents were asked the extent to which experiences offered by military service would make them more likely to stay in reserve military service. The phrase, “stay for military experiences,” is used to describe a set of reasons for staying in reserve military service (including “experience overseas training and travel opportunities,” “serve my country,” “experience military life,” “be physically and mentally challenged,” and “develop discipline and confidence”), which respondents had rated in a consistent manner, as demonstrated by factor analysis. Even if respondents intended to leave, they may state reasons that would influence them to stay. Indeed, this expectation is substantiated by survey responses: Of the soldiers who did not intend to reenlist (who answered either “definitely no” or “probably no”), 92 percent marked at least one of eleven reasons for staying, with a median of four reasons for staying.
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